Hyderabad, June, 2004: ETHICON, a division of Johnson & Johnson Ltd, the market leader in the medical device industry and other healthcare products launches VICRYL* Plus the World’s first and only Antibacterial Suture. VICRYL* Plus Sutures offer protection against bacterial colonization on the Suture and is considered a breakthrough in wound closure technology. India is the only third country after USA and Canada and the only country in the Pan Asian Continent to benefit from this advanced generation medical implant.

VICRYL* Plus is the first and only antibacterial suture cleared by the FDA that is known to reduce colonization of bacteria that are known to cause the majority of surgical site infections (SSIs). In vitro studies demonstrate that VICRYL* Plus Antibacterial Suture creates an
"ACTIVE ZONE" around the suture, inhibiting staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus epidermidis and methicillin resistant strains of staphylococcus (MRSA and MRSE), the leading surgical site bacteria, from colonizing on the suture for a minimum of 48 hours.

This device represents a major breakthrough in suture technology that holds the promise of making surgery safer for all patients who undergo surgery, as it is the first device ever to inhibit bacterial colonization of the suture.

VICRYL* Plus has the same attributes as VICRYL* (polyglactin 910) Suture, the gold standard of sutures, but the addition of the antibacterial agent Triclosan provides an extra benefit by creating an "ACTIVE ZONE" around the suture, which works the moment it comes in contact with the patient’s wound.

VICRYL* Plus contains Triclosan, which is a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent. Triclosan is not an antibiotic and is nontoxic in VICRYL* Plus antibacterial suture. Triclosan has been
effectively used in consumer products for more than 30 years.